Utilizing fine ores, flue-dust, and the like.



H. c. WOYLLE &-. E. P. KENNEY; UTILIZING PINE ORES, FLUB DUST, AND THELIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR.3, 1911.

1,073,381. Patented Sept. 16,1913.

messes,

NITED STATES PATENT HARTLEY G. WOLLE AND EDWARD F. KENNEY, OF WESTMONTBOROUGH, PENNSYL- VANIA.

UTILIZING FINE ORES, FLUTE-DUST, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

Application filed March 3, 19,11. Serial No. 612,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that we, HARTLEY C. WOLLE and EDWARD F. KENNEY, citizens ofthe United States, residing in the borough of lVestmont, in the countyof Cambria and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Im rovenrenfts in Utilizing Fine Ores, Flueust, and the Like; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled intheart. to which it a-ppertains to make and use the same.

In smelting ores in blast, shaft or other furnaces it is difiicul't toproperly or regularly smelter reduce the finer portions thereof. This ispartially due to the fact that the fine particles fill the spacesbetween the larger particles of the ore, fuel, flux, or

other portions of the charge, or commingle similar furnaces, and asfine-ores and fluedust are somewhat similar in their qualities, we willhereafter, ing the description, refer to both of these generically asfine-ores.

Our invention also relates to the product made as hereinafter described.

All ores contain a certain percentage of fine material which is capableof being utilized in the manner stated hereinafter, and we havediscovered that our invention is particularly applicable to utilizin thefineores of the Mesaba range of lipnesota,

which, although produced in large quantities, cannot be smeltedregularly Without trouble, for the reasons aforesaid and on otheraccounts as known to those skilled in this art, v

Charging, fine-ores directly into a blast furnace-produces aconsiderable loss thereof by being. carried out with the gases as dust,

for the sake of simpl1fy--.

and their use in this manner also causes slips and explosions in thefurnace which are detrimental to the proper operation thereof, and atthe same time dangerous to the men, being at times so violent as totance apart, the ores passing over said screento be charged directlyinto the blast furnace, andthose portions of the fine-ores passingthrough the screen to be treated and utilized as hereinafter described.

Our invention comprises passing fine-ores between a pair of preferablyhard cylindrical rolls arranged with their axes substantially paralleland adjusted with their adjoining surfaces at a suitable distance apart,say from 3-inch to -inch, or more, thereby compacting the material byrolling pressure into dense flakes, this operation causing the granularparticles of fine-ores to interlock with each other and cohere. Thisrolling pressure is distinctive in its action in that it graduallycompresses the materials as they enter into the so-called bite or curvedwedge-shaped opening between the rolls, thereby expelling any entrainedair, vapor or gases, and causing the granular materials to issuefrom'between the rolls in the form of a thin, compact sheet, whichhowever, breaks up into flakes of thickness corresponding .to thedistance between the rolls, but otherwise of irregularoutline.

The action of the pressure rolls in compacting the fine materials issuch that the density of the flakes so produced is greater at thesurfaces in contact with the rolls than in the interior portion of saidflakes fart-her removed from the roll surfaces.

during their formation. This roduces a flake with an exterior surface 0a considerable compactness, so. that it forms an envelop or containerfor the less compact and slightly more porous interior. The differencein density or compactness throughout the flakes is, however,comparatively small and all the material is highly com- 5 pressed,.although the exterior surfaces, which have been in. contact with therolls, are more compressed. and dense. than the interior portions, asabove described. By this method, therefore, we produce flakes which, onaccount of thir porosity, are well adapted for smelting, especially asthe edges thereof, as, or after being charged into the blast furnaceare. more porous than the sides which have been in contact with the 5rolls, thus allowing the reducing gases to penetrate the flakes andreduce them.

We have found by actual trial that we can operate on fine-ores orsimilar materials when in their natural condition, provided 2 themoisture is within certain limits, say

from three to eleven per centum. This, we consider to be due tp the factthat the materials ofthe kind used will have a certain coherence asevidenced by their so-called angle of repose, if deposited in a pile,this being an indication of their semi-coherence which enables them tobe compacted in the manner stated. If the condition of the ore, withrespect to moisture, is such that it is 0 either too dry or too wet forcompacting in' the 'manner mentioned, we then add moisture, if too dry,or dry the ore by exposure to the air, or otherwise, until the moisturecontent is such that the materials may be co pa'cted by rollingpressure.

Althougi we may treat ores of widely arying composition, we give belowcertain sample analyses of ore and flue-dust which we have successfullycompacted into flakes 40 by rolling pressure.

Mesaba Fine Ores.

Per cent.

Iron (as iron oxids) 82. Silica-SiO 1.9 Alumina-Al,Q .8 Manganese (asmanganese oxids) .3

Cal), Mg.O, combined, water (H O) and other items .0 Moisture-H O about10.

F lac-Dust. .Pcrccnt. Iron (as iron oxids) 70. SilicaSiO 7. Alumina-A10,. 2.8 Manganese (as manganese oxids) .8 CaO, Mg.O, combined, water (HO) and other items 3.4 Loss on ignition, mostly coke, etc., and withsome moisture 16.

Although we have given the approximate compositions, as'indicated above,of certain ore and flue-dust which have been successgully compacted byour invention, we do not limit ourselves to materials of this compoeignmineral ingredients.

sition, but may treat any of these materials which are capable of beingmade into dense flakes by rolling pressure. 4

The compacting of material by rolling pressure may be due to theinterlocking and coherence of the particles of the principal ingredientsand might be assisted in part by reason ofthe plastic, or semi-plasticimpurities contained in the tine-ores, such as clay or any other mineralor organic matters.. We have, however, successfully compacted fine-ores,such as that shown by the foregoing analysis of Mesaba ore, whichcontains so little foreign mineral material that the said foreignconstituents can not 30 reasonably be considered to have muchappreciable effect in, making the particles ad-. here, so that ourprocess. is not altogether dependent on the binding action of the for IThe addition of moisture appears to be helpful in that it lessens thefriction between the granular particles and permits them to come intomore intimate contact with each other, thereby firmly cohering, besideswhich, some of the moisture may chemically combine with the fine-ores,thereby hydrating the same and making the particles more amenable tocoherence. ,The rolling pressure as we appl itto fine-ores, while havingthe physical e et of compacting them as described, is also believed tobring the particles or ultimate elements thereof, into such closecontact that a chemical action and consolidation occurs, there by aidingin the production of dense andsolid flakes.

Having thus given a general description of our invention, we will now,in order to make same more clear,'refer to'the sheet of drawin saccompanying this s ecification and in w ich like numbers re er to likeparts. t

, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional elevation through a pairof cylindrical rolls showing the housings and appurtenances thereof,this view being taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an elevationof the delivery side of our ap aratus. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionale ovation simllar 115 to Fig. 1, except that "the means and apparatusfor feed ng fine-ore to the rolls is different. Fig. 4 is' a verticalsectional -ele-- vation of a. portion of the ore-feed chute with shakingapparatus connected there- 12:)

with to insure the feeding, if desired; Fig. 5 is a pers ective view ofone of the dense flakes pro need by "our invention, and we wish itunderstood that these flakes may be larger or smaller, as desired. 7

Referring now to the figures of reference on the drawing, 1 representsour lower cylindrical roll; 2 represents the upper cylindrical. orcompanion roll; these being preferably set at an angle in order tofacilitate 130 i is arranged approximately at an angle ofthe feed of thematerial thereto, although the rolls may be placed vertically, one abovethe other, or side by side, if desired, as will ;be readily understood.The rolls 1 and 2 are preferably made with hard smooth surfaces andformed of chilled iron-or hard steel. The rolls El and 2 are each drivenby suitable means, (.not shown.) which is preferably arranged by meansof :pinions and coupling spindles so that .the surfacespeeds of .therolls are substantially equal, thereby producing the desired .compactingrolling pressure.

The frameworkor housingbf the rolls, is represented by 3 while 4 are thebearings for the upper roll, and 5 the bearings'for the :lower roll; 16.are adjusting screws to maintain the upper roll .at the requireddistance from the lower roll, While 7 laresliners inserted in the spaces8 between the ad- .joining bearings 41 and 5 which assist in maintainingthe distance between them; the liners 7 may be thick or thin, asdesired, and by screwing the :roll bearings down against them by meansof the screws 6, the opening can be adjusted as may be necessary. Thechute for delivering the fineore to the rolls is represented by-9, thesaid chute bein'g' supported by the beams 20 and 21.

As shown in Fig. 1, the delivery-chute 9 forty-five degrees from thehorizontal, whereas the angle of repose or slope of the fine-ore isshown to be .less than this. With the arrangement as shown in Fig. 1 thebody or-layer of fine-one which is present to the rolls, rests foraconsiderable. distance on said roll surfaces. on each side of the narrowspace between them, thus presenting at all times a considerablethickness. of material to insure the regular feed thereof.

As shown in Fig. 3 .the feed .is regulated by means'ojf a gate 24 whichmayberaised or lowered and set as desired to present a layer such as.30, of any predetermined thickness to the bite of the rolls. The amountof compression produced eby :the

rolls, is to a certain extent, dependent upon the thicknessanduniformity of the layer .presented thereto, and we vlave thereforearranged our apparatus so thatathis tea-- ture maybe properlycontrolled.

As shown particularly in Fig. -1 the lower portion of the layer ofgranular material rests upon .the upper surface of thelower roll to aconsiderable distance from the narrow opening between the pair ofrolls,and by meanso are carried by the friction .of the revolving rolls intothe narrow passage between the same.

10 represents the sides of our deliserychute for guiding thematerial-therein; 11 represents the discharge-chute which mag bearrangedata less angle .to the-horizontal thisarrangement the materials(XE :the screen 15, and 17 are the standards Carrying same.

18 represents the belt-conveyer and pulleys for carrying the compressedflakes from the discharge-chute to any convenient receptacle, such as19.. The receptacle 19 may be either a car, boxj gbr in certain cases,it may :be the skip or bu cket which carries the materials to the top ofa blast furnace for the purpose of char ing the same therein. We may, ifdesired, pleliver'the compressed flakes directly into the ship or bucketaforesaid, for the purpose of avoiding unnecessar-y handling andinsuring that the materials are delivered to the blast furnace in thebest condition for further utilization.

As shown in Fig. 4, 22 is a reinforcing piece secured to the bottomofthe deliverychute 9.,and 23 represents acain-wheel with means (netshown) for revolving the same, whereby a jarring motion is given to thedelivery-chute;to assist the movement ofthe material therein. Thisjarringmechanism is not essential to our apparatus, but we have shown.itns an auxiliary which might be useful. The finepresor similarmaterials on which we operateare contained in a bin,

the Slower portion of which is indicated at 14 and provided with a dooror gate 25 which may be opened or closed to discharge the requiredamount of material therefrom, the operating ilever .of said gate beingindicated as 26. The' fine-ore or similar ma- 'terial, prior to ourtreatment, is indicated as 27 and the pile or talus thereof as presentedtouthe rolls, is indicated as 28 in Fig. 1. The compressed flakes orparticles are indicated as 29, one of these being shown in Fig. 5, infull size, but we wish it understood that they may be thicker torthinner than shown, and the otherdimensions may also vary, the essencebeing that these compressed flakes shall be of considerably larger sizethan the original granulesor particles of fine-.ore. It will be notedthat'the width of the stream or layer of material presented .to the.rolls ,is comparatively narrow inorder to insure sufficient rollingpressure thereto, whereby the particles of material will interlock andcohere. lVe prefer, however, .to make the rolls considerably longer thanthe width of ,the stream of the material delivered ito'them, so thatas.one-.pactof the rolls becomes worn,

1 moved longitudinally of the rolls to use another portion of thesurface thereof. By

means of this arrangement we can have a.

number of wearingsurfaces on the rolls available, thereby conducing toeconomy and regularity of operation. The delivery-chute is slidablymounted on the beams '20 and 21 to permit it to be adjusted to deliver acomparatively narrow stream or layer to any part of the rolls, and atthe same time be in position, by reason of its wider upper portion, toreceive the material from the beltconveyer 13, or otherwise. Thedischargechute 11 is similarly adjustable so as to re ceive thecompressed flakes.

The operation of our invention is as followsz Fine-ores or other similarmaterials are used as received, or, are prepared by screening, ifnecessary, and, if required, the moisture content ofsame is adjustedbetween the limits found by experience to be suitable to enable them tobe compacted by 1 rolling pressure. With the materials which we haveused, we find that the range of moisture is between three per'centum (orin some cases a minimum of five per centum) and eleven per centum byweight, but we do not limit ourselves to these exact proportions. Thematerial in the bin l t being in a somewhat semi-coherent condition,although still finely granular and lacking in density, is thencedischarged, as indicated at 27, to the conveyer 13 and carried to theinclined delivery-chute -9, down which it slides and is presented t'othe bite of the rolls as shown either in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3. If necessary,the material may be forced against the rolls by a manually operatedtamping'tool, or otherwise.- The rolls 1 and 2 are revolved by means ofany suitable power (not shown), at substantially equal surfacevelocities thereby drawing the fine material in between the same andcompacting it in a thin sheet, which sheet, however, as it issues fromsaid rolls, breaks into dense flakes by reason of its thinness, due tothe action of gravity or other forces. The material is discharged fromthe rolls down the discharge-chute 11, thence on to the belt-conveyer18-and, from there into the receptacle 19. As the material passesbetween the rolls it is compacted by rolling pressure into a thin sheet,which, as it issues from the discharge side of the rolls, projectstherefrom in the form of a dense layer, which, however, by the action ofgravity, or other forces thereon, is broken into small pieces ofirregular fracture, which are then conveyed by gravity down thedischarge chute 11. The typical form of one of these flakes is indicatedas 29 in Fig. 5, the two opposing surfaces of which are substantiallyparallel, with irregular edges as shown. These dense flakes are in avery convenient form and well adapted for further handling, treatmentand smelting in a blast furnace.

By meansof this recess and apparatus the operation is continuous andcapable of producing a large quantity of flakes in a given time, beingtherefore, practical and economical in a very high degree. y

We wish it understood that our invention is applicable to the treatmentand utilization of fine-ores, flue-dust and similar materials, and thatthe apparatus, process and product may be varied and modified withoutterials, and that the apparatus, process and practice thereof, aspointed out in the claims.

Having thus given a description of our invention, what we claim anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. The steps in theprocess of utilizing fine-ores consisting of adjusting the moisturetherein to make the material 'semi-co herent and then compacting sameinto flakes by rolling pressure.

2. The steps in the process of utilizing fineores consisting ofadjusting the moisture therein tomake the material semi-coherent, androlling into a sheet of substantially uniform thickness, which afterrolling separates into flakes of irregular size.

3. The steps in the process of utilizing fine-ores consisting ofsubjecting the same, while in a semi-coherent condition, to rollingpressure, thereby expelling the entrained air, vapor, etc., and causingthe particles to interlock and cohere in the form of dense flakes.

fine-ores consisting of first adjusting the moisture therein to make thematerial recep:

tive to coherence by rolling pressure, and then rolling the same,whereby it is compressed into flakes. I 5. The steps in the process ofutilizing fine-ores consisting of first adjusting the moisture thereinto make the material capable of coherence, then rolling a comparativelythick and regular layer of the material, whereby it is compacted intoflakes.

6. The steps in the process of utilizing fine-ores consisting ofsubjecting the same in a granular layer to rolling pressure, there- ;byforming dense flakes of less thickness than said layer.

7. The steps in the process of utilizingfine ores consisting insubmitting the same in a moist, granular, semi-coherentlayer to rollingcompressing fmeans, carrying said layer by the frictional action thereofinto a narrow space arranged between the afore said rolllng compressingmeans, thereby compacting said layer into dense flakes.

8. In the process of utilizing fine-ores, adjusting the moisture thereofbetween the limits of three and eleven per centum and then compactingthe said ores by rolling pressure,thereby forming dense flakes.

ing dense flakes of greater size than the original particles and thencharging said flakes into a smelting or blast furnace.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of smooth-facedcylindrical rolls, means for adjusting and maintaining the distancebetween the adjoining surfaces thereof, thereby forming a narrow openingbetween the same, an inclined delivery-chute arranged to be adjustedlongitudinally in' various locations alon said rolls with its lower endad oinlng the upper surface of the lower roll near said narrow openmgand adapted to present a layer of fine-ore thereto.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of smooth-facedrolls adjusted With a narrow opening between the adjoining surfacesthereof, a delivery chute much narrower than the length of said rollsand means for adjusting said chute in various locations longitudinallyof said rolls, whereby different portions of said roll surfaces may beutilized.

12. A new article of manufacture comprising thin dense flakes composedof fineore with approximately parallel opposite surfaces of greaterdensity than the interior and irregular edges formed by the fractures ofa sheet thereof produced by rolling pressure.

In testimony whereof we hereto affix our signatures in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

' HARTLEY C. WVOLLE. EDWARD F. KENNEY. Witnesses:

ELMER SEAVEY, ROBERT A. BEERS.

